NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that while Serbia has a sovereign right to conduct military exercises with China, he personally distances himself from President Aleksandar Vučić’s approach. Rutte warned that China’s global actions particularly its cooperation with Russia, North Korea, and Iran—make Belgrade’s growing military alignment with Beijing highly concerning.
In July, Serbia, under Vučić, conducted its first joint military exercise with China—a 10-day operation involving special units in Hebei province despite repeated warnings from the European Union. Rutte emphasized that such exercises, while claimed as sovereign decisions by Serbia, carry broader strategic implications for Euro-Atlantic security.
Vučić has also overseen major acquisitions from China, including CH-92A drones in 2020, the FK-3 air defense system in 2022, and additional CH-95 drones. Rutte noted that NATO monitors these developments carefully, emphasizing that Serbia’s moves cannot be separated from China’s growing military influence.
While Serbia remains militarily neutral, its partnership with China under Vučić contrasts sharply with its official EU integration goals, raising serious questions about the government’s strategic judgment and alignment with regional and Western security priorities.
